Cowboys-Buccaneers Best Bets, Expert Picks for Thursday Night Football

Article Image

The NFL season is here! We’ve already looked at Thursday Night Football odds and a few player props. Now it’s time to put together our staff’s best bets for the Cowboys vs. Buccaneers.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers Best Bets, Expert Picks

Antonio Brown o4.5 receptions (-130)

By Nick Galaida

Unsurprisingly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to receive the vast majority of money for Thursday night’s game, which has pushed them all the way to eight-point favorites. If you missed out on getting the Buccaneers on the right side of seven points, there are other ways to bet on them this evening. Antonio Brown should be a frequent target for Tom Brady on Thursday, and he should hit over 4.5 receptions with ease as a result. In the final eight games of the 2020 regular season, Brown received at least five targets on seven occasions—catching at least five passes in five of those eight matchups, despite playing a limited snap count due to joining the team halfway through the season. When he has been on the field, he has commanded over a 20 percent target share, even playing alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Brady excelled throwing the ball down the field in 2020, but his favorite throws have always been underneath to his slot receivers. Brady has long been a fan of Brown. Expect them to have great rapport this fall, and for that strong connection to be on full display against the Cowboys.

Check out Nick’s Cowboys vs. Bucs Betting Preview, too!

Bucs Against The Spread

By Andy Means

Assuming Dak Prescott is back to similar form that we saw before his injury, the Cowboys offense should have plenty of success this season. Unfortunately, I don’t think that success will start in Week 1 against a Bucs defense that was 5th in DVOA last season and returns every starter. I bet this when it was still Bucs -7.5 but the line has moved in recent days. Since the Bucs offense should have every advantage imaginable against a leaky Cowboys defense, I think the Bucs take this one on opening night by double digits, so I still don’t hate it at the current number.

Cowboys +8.5 Against The Spread

By Matt Schmitto

I liked the Cowboys a lot more before news that Zack Martin tested positive for COVID-19. However, oddsmakers have reacted to the loss of the starting offensive lineman by stretching the spread to Cowboys +8.5, which might be enough for me to bite. With the Buccaneers’ dominant Super Bowl victory fresh in our minds, we forget their struggle against the Washington Football Team and quarterback Taylor Heinecke. The Bucs are rightful NFC favorites, but the market is overvaluing them early in the season. Even in a game script that features a comfortable Bucs win, the Cowboys can still cover the spread with a backdoor cover thanks to being the biggest underdog of the week.

Mike McCarthy 25-1 to Win Coach of the Year

By Matt Schmitto

This isn’t exactly a Thursday Night Football bet, but you better grab it before kickoff because sportsbooks might take this market off the board. Considering I wrote that Mike McCarthy the dumbest coach in the NFL earlier, you might find this pick surprising. Allow me to explain.

Since 2009, the Coach of the Year comes from teams that win on average 5.9 games more than they did a season before; eight of the last 10 Coach of the Year Awards have gone to coaches who win their division; all ten have come from playoff teams; and five of the last 10 Coach of the Year Awards have gone to first-year head coaches of their respective teams. Conveniently, the Cowboys went 6-10 last year, so the 6-game improvement is within reach. With a prolific offense capable of leading the league in scoring, the Cowboys ceiling is certainly 12 to 13 wins, and it helps that their only competition in the NFC East is Washington.

Image Credit: Imagn

About the Author

RotoGrinders
RotoGrinders

RotoGrinders is the heart of the daily fantasy sports community. Let us connect you with strategy, tools, and content that can help you become a better DFS player.